Microelectronic animal identification

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for microelectronic animal identification are disclosed. The microelectronic animal identification device includes an inserter configured to releasably holding the microelectronic chip at a distal end of the inserter, and an actuator configured to release the microelectronic chip from the inserter when the distal end of the inserter is inserted into a substrate of an animal body part. The microelectronic animal identification system includes a microelectronic chip and delivery system, a pigment marking device, a media transfer assembly for producing a pigment mark, a tissue sample device, and a data management system providing traceability of the animal and the materials used.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A microelectronic animal identification device for a rodent used as a laboratory test animal, the device comprising:
 an inserter configured to releasably hold a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag at a distal end of the inserter; 
 a restraining device configured to restrain the rodent such that an upper part of a tail of the rodent presents a substrate to the distal end of the inserter; 
 an actuator configured to release the RFID tag from the inserter when the distal end of the inserter is inserted into the substrate of the upper part of the tail; 
 a marking device configured to deposit a pigment composition into the substrate of the upper part of the tail; and 
 a controller configured to control a position of the inserter and to actuate the actuator to be configured to release the RFID chip from the inserter to implant the RFID tag in the upper part of the tail of the rodent wherein the RFID tag represents a first identification associated with the rodent, and to actuate the marking device to create a marking identification on the upper part of the tail of the rodent, wherein the marking identification represents a second identification associated with the rodent. 
 
     
     
       2. The identification device of  claim 1 , wherein the inserter is configured to implant the RFID tag beneath the epidermis of the upper part of the tail at a depth that allows an RF signal to be detected by the RFID tag and provide power to the RFID tag. 
     
     
       3. The identification device of  claim 1 , wherein the inserter, the marking device and the restraining device are configured to be positioned relative to one another based on a size of the marking identification to be created on the upper part of the tail of the rodent. 
     
     
       4. The identification device of  claim 1 , further comprising a media transfer assembly containing the pigment composition, wherein the marking device is configured to make a mark by contacting the pigment composition with at least one needle prior to marking the substrate with the at least one needle. 
     
     
       5. The identification device of  claim 1 , further comprising a data management system configured to interact with the identification device to store and cross-reference the first identification associated with the rodent and the second identification associated with the rodent. 
     
     
       6. The identification device of  claim 1 , further comprising a robotic assembly configured to interact with the controller to automatically control operation of the inserter along a Y-axis, a theta axis and an R axis. 
     
     
       7. The identification device of  claim 6 , wherein the robotic assembly is further configured to interact with the marking device to create the marking identification. 
     
     
       8. A microelectronic animal identification device for a rodent used as a laboratory test animal, the device comprising:
 an inserter cartridge configured to releasably hold a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag at a distal end of a needle; 
 a restraining device configured to restrain the rodent such that an upper part of a tail of the rodent presents a substrate to the distal end of the needle; and 
 an actuator operably coupled to the inserter cartridge and configured to release the RFID tag from the needle when the distal end of the needle is inserted into the substrate of the upper part of the tail protruding from the restraining device to implant the RFID tag in the upper part of the tail of the rodent, 
 wherein the inserter cartridge includes a reference feature configured to position the inserter cartridge relative to the actuator in a predetermined orientation, and a locking feature configured to lock the inserter cartridge onto the actuator. 
 
     
     
       9. A microelectronic animal identification device for a rodent used as a laboratory test animal, the device comprising:
 an inserter cartridge configured to releasably hold a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag at a distal end of a needle; 
 a restraining device configured to restrain the rodent such that an upper part of a tail of the rodent presents a substrate to the distal end of the needle; and 
 an actuator operably coupled to the inserter cartridge and configured to release the RFID tag from the needle when the distal end of the needle is inserted into the substrate of the upper part of the tail protruding from the restraining device to implant the RFID tag in the upper part of the tail of the rodent, 
 wherein the RFID tag further comprises a laminated thin-film vital sign detector. 
 
     
     
       10. The identification device of  claim 9 , wherein the thin-film vital sign detector is selected from the group consisting of heart rate detector, ECG detector, EEG detector, EMG detector, temperature detector, blood pressure detector, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       11. A microelectronic animal identification device for a rodent used as a laboratory test animal, the device comprising:
 an inserter configured to releasably hold a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag at a distal end of the inserter; and 
 a restraining device configured to restrain the rodent such that a tail of the rodent is presented in a generally fixed and stable position and orientation to permit implantation of the RFID tag below a substrate of an upper part of the tail of the rodent, the restraining device including:
 a base plate having a pair of opposed members arranged as a tail cleat structure proximate to a distal portion of the base plate and defining a channel between the pair of opposed members having a width that is dimensioned to accommodate the tail of the rodent; 
 a biasing member configured to urge the pair of opposed members toward each other to decrease the width of the channel and assert a restraining force against the tail to restrict longitudinal movement of the tail; and 
 a body restraint defining a cavity configured to temporarily enclose a body of the rodent within the cavity when the body restraint is positioned on top of the base plate and allow the tail of the rodent to extend through the tail cleat structure and away from the body restraint; and 
 
 an actuator configured to release the RFID tag from the inserter when the distal end of the inserter is inserted into the substrate of the upper part of the tail protruding from the restraining device to implant the RFID tag in the upper part of the tail of the rodent. 
 
     
     
       12. The identification device of  claim 11 , wherein the restraining device further comprising a reversible fixation mechanism configured to temporarily secure the body restraint to the base plate. 
     
     
       13. The identification device of  claim 12 , wherein the reversible fixation mechanism includes at least one magnet on at least one of the body restraint and the base plate. 
     
     
       14. The identification device of  claim 11 , wherein the tail cleat structure is operably attached to the base plate and the biasing member is operably carried by the body restraint and interfaces with the tail cleat structure when the body restraint is positioned on the base plate. 
     
     
       15. The identification device of  claim 11 , wherein the base plate includes a handle structure proximate to a proximal portion of the base plate and also includes a distal surface extending distally from the tail cleat structure, such that the body restraint is configured to be positioned between the handle and the tail cleat structure such that the tail of the rodent extends distally from the body restraint and a lower portion of the tail is supported by the distal surface of the base plate.